Australia

Melbourne Racing Club announces the Jim Moloney Stakes

The Melbourne Racing Club (MRC) on Thursday announced a brand new black-type race for its upcoming spring program, to be named in honour of legendary trainer Jim Moloney.

The Listed Jim Moloney Stakes, a 1400m race for three-year-old fillies, is scheduled to be run on MRC Foundation Race Day on September 22. The race is a tribute to Hall Of Fame racehorse trainer Jim Moloney, patriarch of one of the biggest and most successful families in Australian racing with two horse trainers among his seven children and his grandson Patrick a successful jockey.

Arriving in Melbourne in 1956 to pursue a career as a horse trainer, Jim Moloney managed to produce arguably Australia’s greatest sprinter, Vain. Vain would conquer a string of great Australian races including the Golden Slipper and Caulfield Guineas and will always be remembered for winning three feature races in seven days during the Flemington carnival in the 1960’s. Jim would prepare many other remarkable horses during his career including Artic Symbol, Epidaurus and Plush.

The Moloneys have been a part of the Caulfield family since their move from Epsom Training Centre in the mid-1990s. John and Gerard, sons of Jim, have called Caulfield home since and Gerard’s son Patrick Moloney is now a leading Victorian rider. Patrick served his apprenticeship at Caulfield under the watch of his father and uncle.

“The Melbourne Racing Club is thrilled to be able to honour a legend of Australian racing with the naming of the Jim Moloney Stakes,” MRC Chief Executive Josh Blanksby said.

“Jim has left an indelible mark on our sport, both through his training performances and through his sons John and Gerard, who in turn have educated a rising star of the Victorian jockey ranks in Patrick.”

The Jim Moloney Stakes further strengthens an outstanding day’s racing on MRC Foundation Race Day, which includes the highly regarded Group 3 Naturalism Stakes (2000m), which grants the winner ballot exemption into the $5 million Stella Artois Caulfield Cup (2400m), as well as the addition of the Group 1 $500,000 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (1400m).